September 2015
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The Link PLEASANT HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Connecting People to Jesus Christ
Inside this issue: Thoughts from Pastor Dave & Other Information
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Other Opportunities
Rainbow Kingdom & UMW
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Children & Youth
Missions, Prayer requests & Harvest Dinner
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Calendar
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The deadline for the October LINK is: Wednesday, September 16th Please turn in all articles to the Church Office or email them to
phumc@mail.com
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Thoughts from Pastor Dave: Mark 9 (A recent lesson from The Wired Word) If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. ... And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell ... Call this "the amputation cure." While we are certain that Jesus did not mean these words to be taken literally, the very rawness of the metaphor of cutting off your hand and plucking out your eye points out that he was talking about taking drastic measures to avoid remaining in sin. If nothing else, it was a vivid, metaphorical way of saying that we must stop doing those things that harm us and others. Regarding these destructive behaviors, we can pray for two things: First, we can pray for the courage to be ruthlessly honest with ourselves and to not kid ourselves into think of ourselves to highly than we ought. (Romans 12:3) And second, we can pray for the ability to understand what things we can take responsibility for ourselves. Question: In what ways can the church help us to stop doing things that are destructive to our well-being? Jesus' words about cutting off our hand or plucking out an eye remind us that when the results of a certain course of action or a certain way of thinking are likely to be disastrous, then drastic measures -- the equivalent of amputation -- are necessary. But often, despite the danger, we cling to our old habits, behaviors and attitudes that have gotten us into trouble in the past. We recycle them throughout our lives as if each one were made of the most precious resources available. There are some obvious things we can say -- and do -- about this: • If you want to be healthy, ... stop doing those things that harm you. • If you want harmony in your life, ... stop doing those things that cause discord. • If you want peace in the home, ... stop doing those things that lead to conflict. • If you want a closer relationship with your children, ... stop doing those things and saying those things that build up walls between you. • If you want to rekindle the romance in your marriage, ... stop doing those things that create animosity. • If you want to live in a close-knit, caring community, ... stop hiding behind your front door. • If you want a spiritual life that fills you up, ... stop pouring all your energies everywhere but toward God. (This list comes from the publication Homiletics.) Perhaps this makes it sound like we're in control of our own salvation, though if that were the case, evangelistic preaching would tell us to just stop sinning and thus be saved. That's not what the gospel says. It tells us to trust God and ask him to forgive us, to invite Jesus to come into our lives. There's not one word about saving ourselves. But once we have turned to God, there's a good bit of stuff we can and should be responsible for. For example, if we get into trouble every time we hang out with certain friends, then the remedy is not to pray that God will change that, but to stop spending time with those particular friends. Join us on Wednesday evenings for more Bible studies through The Wired Word
Christian Confirmation Class Beginning in October we will have Christian conformation classes for 8th grade students (or older) who already attend our church and others who live in our community. Conformation, for those already baptized, tends to be a time to consider and develop an understanding of faith in Jesus Christ that may have been professed on their behalf. For those who have not been baptized it may include the sacrament of baptism as a personal profession of faith. Pastor Dave will lead the class that will meet on Wednesday evenings during the months of October – November, 2015 and January – February – March. We will be celebrate the completion of our confirmation on April 3, 2016 (1 st Sunday after Easter). Adults participate in conformation too. In fact, we need you. You can participate in different ways: Partners – Like a study partner these adults attend class each week and participate in the discussions. A great way to learn and ponder along with the rest of the class. Mentors – These adults are invited to a specific class or classes and share their own faith story. Encouragers – Regularly pray for and send encouragement (cards and notes) to students. We will discuss philosophy, theology, Christianity and our Wesleyan tradition. We plan outings to include Catholic, Orthodox and Jewish places of worship and Grand Avenue Temple UMC. We will also have ministry opportunities (ie: Habitat for Humanity, Lazarus Table or Harvester’s Food Bank)
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Hard to believe that it is ‘Back to School” time already! Rainbow Kingdom classes will start the week of September 8th. We have 35 children enrolled and 4 teachers to start off our school year. We still have some openings for our Pre-K 4&5 year old class that is on Monday/Wednesday/Friday. Also we are starting a list for anyone interested in the 3&4 year old Preschool class or the 3 to 5 year old PDO class on Tuesday/Thursday. If interested, please call the Rainbow Kingdom office for more info. You can like our Facebook page to see some of our activities. We are also on the PHUMC website. We are also looking for substitute teachers for the school year. This would be for when a teacher calls in sick or has a sick child or doctor’s appointment, family need, etc. Give me a call if you are interested in being on our sub list. We do require a background check for our subs. Themes for September will be I am special, Friends, Apples, Community Helpers, Fire Safety and the Fruit of the Spirit-Kindness. A field trip to the Fire Station is being planned for the end of September. We will spend most of September getting to know each other and learning the routines along with our themes and letters for the month. Our Rainbow Kingdom sign (girl) that stands in the front of the church is needing a fresh coat of paint. Let me know if you might be interested in taking on this task. Thank you! Please watch for the children and families in the parking lot starting in September. Yours Truly from the Rainbow, Teresa Vaughan and the Rainbow Kingdom Staff God Bless You!
United Methodist Women ATTENTION ALL WOMEN!
Mark your calendars!
Spiritual Growth Retreat “Fill Your Cup” Fill Your Cup is a mini-event that feels like a cozy gathering at your favorite coffee shop. It’s a café-themed experience where women easily connect with each other and with God. When: Where: Time: Cost
Saturday, October 10 Hospitality Room 10:00am - 1:00pm (a light lunch will be served) $5:00
UMW September Calendar: September 14: M&M’s will meet at 6:30 at Tracy Young’s house(103 Sugarland Drive) September 15: Glory Workers will meet at 9:30am in room 301. September 15: Gabe’s Babes will meet at 6:30pm in room 301. September 17: Lady Bookies will meet in the church library at 2:00pm. September 21: Friendship Circle will meet at Jeanne Moore’s house at 10:00. September 25 & 26: Annual Meeting in Farmington MO. September 28: M&M’s to be decided.
UMW Lady Bookies Meeting Our Book for our Bookies Discussion group on Sept. 17th is A Twist of Faith by John Donnelly. Come join us at 2 p.m. in the church library. You do not have to be a UMW member to come. If you like to read and like to give your opinion on a book, you can pick up a copy of A Twist of Faith at the Pleasant Hill Public Library. Contact Jeannie Moore at 540-3169 if you need more info.
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Foreign:
FIRE WOOD FOR MISSIONS
Richard Ingels is compiling a list of adults who would like to use their chainsaw skills to raise money to help send our church members on mission trips. He has a lot of seasoned logs that can be sawed, split, stacked and sold in the fall as firewood. If you are interested in the sawing phase of this project, please let him know. He will try to schedule this when the temperature allows. His phone number is 5403983.
VBS MISSION PROJECT Money for Secondary School Educational Scholarships has been collected as part of our VBS program this summer. Rainbow Network has a high school sponsorship program with 1,000 kids currently in that program. Most rural areas have no or low-performing grade schools and no high schools at all. High school students are sent to the high school in the nearest city. Transportation, supplies, and tuition is more than poor families can afford. We have sponsored 4 students for one year and are over halfway toward the sponsorship of a fifth. Their pictures and personal information is on the Mission’s Bulletin Board in the Narthex. PS The girls won the challenge by collecting $862.17 and the boys ran a close second with $735.81. Girl Power!!
HOUSE BUILDING PROJECT Just as the houses through RainbowNetwork are built one concrete block at a time, we continue to collect one dollar at at time. We have sent $2300 to build our first house in La Quesera. Building in this community began last week so it was requested that we send what we have collected to date. Special donation envelopes are in the bulletin the 2nd Sunday of each month. If you feel led to give on another Sunday, there are envelopes available in the Narthex by the two house representations.
Please keep in your prayers M.E. O’Neill
Angie Moss
Elizabeth Garry
Terry Walleck
Barbara Ross
Dean Bradshaw
Shyann Jellison Neil Cline Family John Grimm Dolores Meyer Pat Farr Holt Family
Wesley Moore Judy Somerhiser Mary Yoder Tracy Young Tiffany Hamilton Lawson & Aislee Gonzalez
Mark your calendars! Our Harvest Dinner is Saturday, November 7th! I am looking for volunteers to help me in different areas of the dinner as well as an assistant coordinator (aka partner in fun!). Let me know if you would like to be a part of this important part of our church history and out-reach to our community. Tracy Young 913-980-2348. 4
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OTHER OPPROTUNITIES & HAPPENINGS AT PHUMC Our schools and the Meals on Wheels need labels for Education and Best Choice UPC Labels. I know school is out, but the expenses continue. Our schools use labels for Education to help buy useful items. Please bring these labels to church and put them in the marked containers in either foyer. They will be taken to area schools. East Lynn school and Meals on Wheels use Best Choice UPC emblems to purchase needed supplies, etc. Please bring these items to church and put them in the marked containers, also. They will also be given to Marie Roach for East Lynn or taken to Meals on Wheels. I’m sure the recipients of these labels will thank you, and so do I for taking the tie to bring them in. Arduth Baker
Snappy Seniors Come enjoy lunch and a program with us on September 18 st in the Hospitality Room. Lunch is served at 12 noon and the program will start at 1:00. We don’t care if you’re 55 or 95! Come have fun with us!!!!
Food Pantry Thanks to all who have donated food, money and voleenteereed time to the Lay/Clergy Food Pantry . Our needs continue to increase each month and our numbers of those we serve has climbed. We can always use tuna, juice, canned pasta, pasta, pasta sides, beans and canned vegetables. We appreciate any help you can offer. Thank you.
50 Plus Dance/Exercise:
We are stretching, and incorporate some easy dance moves, for a gentle workout, FRIDAY 10:30-11:20 a.m. in the CLC. $3:00 We are having a lot of fun come join in!!!!
Banners Have you noticed the banners hanging in our Sanctuary?? We are trying to order more for Fall, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Would you be interested in contributing to our banner collection? Each banner is approximately $23. Just send a check to the church and mark it for “banners” ; or you can give your money/check to Jean Pinkston and she will order one for you. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Jean at 816-520-7965. Opportunities for Prayer
Are you interested in expanding your prayer life. Our church has two opportunities for you. 1. We have a telephone prayer chain that we are in need of volunteers for. If you are interested, please fill out the bulletin stub and place it in the offering plate. 2. We also have a prayer group that meets every Tuesday night in the library at 8:00 p.m. This group prays over the prayer requests on the stubs. If you have any questions please contact Vicky Bradshaw @ 816-665-7783
Family Game Night Come join in the fun! Family game night is the last Saturday of each month. We meet at 6:30 pm fir a potluck supper— a true potluck so bring a dish, drink or snack of your choice to share. At 7:00 p.m. we play cards, or games until approx. 9:00-10:00 p.m. Children and their games are welcome with adult supervision as none is provided. Any questions call Nancy McConnell at 588-8464 or Phil Moore at 540+3169
UMW Come join in the fun! Family game night is the last Saturday of each month. We meet at 6:30 pm fir a potluck supper— a true potluck so bring a dish, drink or snack of your choice to share. At 7:00 p.m. we play cards, or games until approx.. 9:00-10:00 p.m. Children and their games are welcome with adult supervision as none is provided. Any questions call Nancy McConnell at 588-8464 or Phil Moore at 540-3169
Connection Sunday Are you looking for a way to get connected? Are you considering going on one of the mission trips? Are you looking for a way to do mission work here in the community? Are you looking for a Bible Study or Sunday School Class? Come find out what is going on here at PHUMC this fall and winter on Sunday, September 20 from 9:45 to 10:45 am in the CLC. 5
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in an e m o …. C fun t a e he h ff with t t Bea cool o ves i t c th a you
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Children &
Ready for FALL Sunday School? We are sure ready for YOU—9:45-10:45 a.m. Nursery/Pre-School (ages 3 and under) in nursery with Georgette Harrald
~~~~~ *BEGINNING EACH Sunday TOGETHER in room 113 for a video…then moving to classroom *Early Elementary (ages 4-6…PreK & Kindergarteners) rm 113 with Cheryl & Brooke Randolph *Middle Elementary (1st & 2nd graders) rm 112 with Wendy Rice & Donnell Ralston *Older Elementary (3rd, 4th & 5th graders) rm 201 with Lesley Noland & Diane Wilhoit
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**Go directly to your classroom… **Middle School—“Submerge” (grades 6-8) rm 107-109 Kim Cleveland **Senior highs (grades 9-12) in the loft Jeff & Carrie Hull
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Children’s Church: Following the children’s sermon in the 8:30 worship service, children (3 yrs through 4th grade) are invited to Children’s Church. This is a great chance to experience the sermon and scripture just like those in the regular worship service. This is also when we will have children’s choir rehearsal. (For special events, we will include “older” kids in children’s church…musical rehearsals, etc.) Make Note—There is NO children’s church on communion Sundays (the first Sunday of each month.) Kids are invited to stay in worship and participate in communion.
How about VOLUNTEERING every so often? It is great fun to share children’s church and Sunday school lessons with our kiddoes. Would you be interested in being a volunteer? We need children’s church helpers (once a month) that would like to help lead this awesome group…all teaching materials and supplies are provided. OR, substitute teachers are needed for Sunday school. We have a SUPER team of Sunday school teachers, but we often need substitutes. We could sure use some people that would be able to step in every so often! Could YOU be one of those people? Please contact Nancy nlyngar@kc.rr.com or 816-699-3371. Thanks!
LOGOS is Coming! We have some VERY SPECIAL NEW plans for LOGOS this year. So, children, youth, and adults need to mark your calendar for a “Kick Off Dinner” on Wednesday, September 30th. In the meantime, check out the information table (ask questions, etc.) in the narthex and get ready for LOGOS! We are working hard to make LOGOS more of an inter-generational experience this year…so it is gonna be something VERY SPECIAL for ALL of us! Be watching and be listening and BE A PART OF THIS AWESOME CHURCH FAMILY MINISTRY EXPERIENCE!!
KATRINA is BACK! KATRINA is BACK! We are SO VERY EXCITED to welcome back Katrina Skidmore…our super-awesome youth leader from 2 years ago. (She left PHUMC to join the staff of Camp Galilee.) With all of the camp closings, this has allowed Katrina to come back to us! This is good…This is VERY good! Be watching for lots of youth activities…and LOTS more great youth participation! 7
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We’re on the Worldwide Web at: www.phillumc.com Rev. David Owsley, Senior Pastor
Pleasant Hill
Services: 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.
United Methodist Church
Sunday School: 9:45 a.m.
1300 Lexington Road Pleasant Hill, MO 64080 816-540-2072
Mailed at
DATED MATERIAL
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Pleasant Hill, MO Permit No. 41
Pleasant Hill, MO September 1, 2015
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
September at PHUMC Sunday
Monday
Tuesday 1 Zumba Prayer Group Girl Scouts
6 Worship 8:30 & 11:00 am No 0.59% today
7 Church office closed for
8 Zumba Prayer Group
Labor Day
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
2 Stay Healthy Bible & Brew Senior High Bible study Praise team practice
3 Bible Study
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Disciple 1
50 Plus Dance
9 Stay Healthy Bible & Brew Senior High Bible study Praise team practice Men’s Basketball
10 Bible Study
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Disciple 1
50 Plus Dance
Baby Grace Store
Zumba
Susana out to a conference
15 Gabe’s Babes Ministry team Girl Scouts Zumba Prayer Group
16 Stay Healthy Bible & Brew Senior High Bible study Praise team practice
17 Lady Bookies Bible Study Disciple 1 Zumba Baby Grace Store
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20 Worship 8:30 & 11:00 am 0.59 % Bible study Blood Drive Praise team Concert
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24 Bible Study
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Stay Healthy Girl Scouts Gideon's Men’s Basketball
Zumba
23 Stay Healthy Bible & Brew Senior High Bible study Praise team practice
Disciple 1
50 Plus Dance
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Stay Healthy
Zumba
Men’s Basketball
Prayer Group
Worship 8:30 & 11:00 am 0.59 % Bible study
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Zumba
13 14 Worship 8:30 & Stay Healthy 11:00 am 0.59 % Bible study Men’s Basketball
Prayer Group
Saturday
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50 Plus Dance Snappy Seniors 26
Zumba
30 Stay Healthy Bible & Brew Senior High Bible study Praise team practice Logos Kick off! Susana on Vacation
For More information on any of these opportunities, please call the church office M-F 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 816-540-2072 8